The Renewed Hope Initiative in collaboration with the Rivers State Government on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each under the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS).
The empowerment programme was part of activities marking the third edition of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme, a social investment policy introduced by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
The event, which took place at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Port Harcourt, was held under the theme, “Finding Joy in Old Age.” Nigeria’s First Lady and wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in her remarks, said the gesture, which has become an annual tradition since 2023, is a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of senior citizens to nation building.
Represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, the First Lady explained that the scheme is designed to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the federal capital territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), totalling Nine thousand five hundred selected beneficiaries across the nation.”
She encouraged the beneficiaries to stay engaged and active, saying, “I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement.”
In her own remarks, the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator, Lady Valerie Fubara, stated that the Rivers State Government, through the magnanimity of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, increased the number of beneficiaries in the state from 250 to 500.
Lady Fubara reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to improving the standard of living and promoting the welfare of the elderly in Rivers State.
Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the state government, through the Health4AllRivers Initiative and in alignment with the Renewed Hope Initiative, has introduced free medical care for senior citizens across the state.
